Monday, June 29, 2026
Sunday, June 28, 2026
SHIKATA GA NAI (Title of a Film)
I was born in Honolulu, grew up in Kakaako, went away to college and returned to work in the sugar industry for C. Brewer at the Hutchinson Sugar Company in Naalehu, Kau, Big Island of Hawaii. So I spoke Pidgin English, referred to by some as Hawaii Creole. Being away for four years at Stanford changed me so that I almost forgot local slang, but spoke English far better. Working in the sugar industry on the Big Island and Kauai infused in me a different kind of Pidgin, which I retain today.
According to Google AI, the three most popular Hawaiian pidgin words blending Hawaiian, English, Portuguese Japanese, Chinese and Filipino are:
I was born in September of 1940, and my mother, holding me in her arms, told me that she pointed to the smoke in the far background coming from Pearl Harbor in 7December1941.
- The Japanese population of Hawaii then was 158,000, as much as 40% (it was 43% in 1920 and only 12% today, although the part-Japanese percentage is 22%) of the territory.
- Those of Japanese ethnicity living along the Pacific Coast, numbering 158,000, were sent to 10 internment camps. Less than 1% of Japanese in Hawaii were sent there, perhaps up to 1500.
There was thus this mistrust of Japanese, and about 5000 Nisei (those Japanese born in the U.S.) already in the Army were reclassified as enemy aliens.- But those Ñisei were U.S. citizens.
- Because virtually every Japanese in the continental U.S. were in internment camps, the attitude of service eligible men was far different from those Japanese young men in Hawaii.
Finally, on 12June1942, the 100th Infantry Battalion (later named the Purple Heart Battalion) was activated, composed of about 1400 Nisei already serving in the Hawaii National Guard's 298th and 299th Infantry Regiments. They were sent to the mainland for training.
On 1February1943, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (later called the Go For Broke Unit), was created of 4000 Nisei volunteers, mostly from Hawaii.- The 100th Battalion was first sent to Europe in 1943, then later the 442nd, after completing training in Camp Shelby, Mississippi, was sent to Italy in June 1944. The two units were combined later that year.
- They successfully liberated French cities from Nazi occupation, then drove German forces out of northern Italy.
In late October of 1944, 275 members of what became known as the Texas Lost Battalion got trapped and surrounded by 6000 German troops.- The 442nd had just liberated Bruyeres and Biffontaine, but was asked to rescue the Texans.
- In five days of fighting, the 442nd rescued 211 trapped soldiers of the Lost Battalion, but suffered 800 casualties.
- Totalling 18,000 men, the 442nd won 4,000 Purple Hearts, 4,000 Bronze Stars, 560 Silver Stars. 21 Medals of Honor and seven Presidential Unit Citations.
The 442nd and 100th became the Army's most decorated units. Governor of Texas John Connally made these veterans honorary Texans.- From the National WWII Museum: Against the odds, the men of the 100th “go for broke.” Despite the years of suspicion and racism that prevailed at home, these Nisei men fought for their country and their ideals of freedom and democracy. They fought heroically, leaving behind a record that is still untouched today.
All the above serves as background to my posting today, emphasizing the point that growing up Hawaii introduces you to a variety of communication techniques highly dependent on your ethnicity. My roots go back to Japan, so Japanese terms are liberally laced into daily conversation. For example, the term, shikata ga nai, or sometimes abbreviated to shoganai, means it can't be helped or there's nothing that can be done or it is what it is.
So yesterday, there was a showing of the film, Shikata Ga Nai, at 15 Craigside.
The 2024 film was written and directed by Eric Nemoto.
Inspired by the true life tendencies of many 442 veterans who have never told their families of their war experiences, “Shikata Ga Nai” tells of the battles that these now declining heroes have faced on their own without no one else knowing.
The film is set in 1999 Honolulu. Tatsuo is a World War II veteran who served in the 442 Regimental Combat Team. He lives with his daughter Lynn, a single mother, and teenage grandson Ryan, and spends time with his army friend Seichi. His life seems peaceful, but he relives the war every day – and he doesn’t want to share his war experiences with his family.
You can listen to an interview with Eric Nemoto and Allan Okuboon Lance Motogawa’s radio show, the Motogawa Music Entertainment Show,
I should add that there was a short documentary, released in 2019, also titled Shikata Ga Nai; An Inconvenient American. Here is a video explaining the meaning of Shikata Ga Nai.
What is the format of the World Cup knockouts?
The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-place finishers, advance to the knockouts.
The knockout phase begins with the round of 32, introduced at the World Cup following the tournament’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams. One loss and you're out!
Then comes the round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and a playoff for third place. The final is on July 19.
The stage-wise breakdown of the tournament’s knockout schedule is:
Round of 16: July 4–7
Quarterfinals: July 9–11
Semifinals: July 14–15
Bronze medal match: July 18
Final: July 19
- Lionel Messi became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup games when he drilled a free kick during Argentina’s 3-1 win over Jordan.
- Portugal’s scoreless draw with Colombia means that Portugal (and Cristiano Ronaldo) will not face Messi and Argentina in the quarterfinals.
- The first match today: Canada 1 vs South Africa 0.
- Tomorrow:
Brazil vs Japan, 1PM on Fox
Germany vs Paraguay, 4:30PM on Fox
Netherlands vs Morocco, 10PM on Fox
Team USA plays Bosnia/Herzegovina in San Francisco on Wednesday, July 1, at 8PM EDT.- If USA wins, then they play the winner of Belgium vs Senegal in Seattle on Monday, July 6, 8PM EDT.
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Saturday, June 27, 2026
27JUNE2026
Started late today. Sorry. Not much to write about, so just picked this day, 27June2026. Day 178 of the year, with 187 remaining. Gazing at the Wikipedia page of today, nothing particularly important happened on this day. The final entry
- 2024 – U.S. President Joe Biden debates former U.S. President Donald Trump. Biden's perceived poor performance leads to his withdrawal from the election on July 21.[17]
The top news of the day is that continued tit-for-tat relationship between Iran and the USA. However, there has been progress on that MOU. From Google AI:
U.S. forces have conducted renewed strikes on Iranian military and drone facilities in the Persian Gulf in response to an Iranian drone attack on a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz . Meanwhile, Israel and Lebanon have signed a U.S.-mediated framework agreement for a partial Israeli troop withdrawal and the handover of territories to the Lebanese Army . [1, 2]
Russia continues making minor territorial gains in eastern Ukraine, advancing at a rate of 15 to 70 meters per day toward remaining strongholds . In response, Ukraine launched a 40-day blitz campaign—striking defense plants and oil infrastructure as far away as Moscow—to pressure Russia into peace negotiations . [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Not quite 9/11/2001, but a small plane yesterday ran into the the 109-story CITC Tower in Beijing, the tallest skyscraper in town. No similar crashing like the two New York City World Trade Center buildings, only a couple windows damaged. The pilot died and 13 injured inside the structure. Known as the China Zun and completed in 2018, stands 1732 feet tall, compared to the 1776 feet One World Trade Center, topped in 2013, and the highest in New York City.
Those Venezuela earthquakes are now known to have killed more than 1400. 1600 foreign rescuers have arrived to help. People are sleeping on the streets because the region has recorded at least 430 aftershocks of up to 5.4 magnitude. The twin earthquakes that devastated Venezuela are eventually projected to cost between $10 billion and $20 billion .[1]
- Germany broke it's all-time high, reaching 106.3F. Near Hamburg, the main traffic lane on part of the A7 autobahn, was closed because the asphalt split.
- Sure, only 98F, but Denmark reached that temperature, warmest day since 1876 when measurements began.
- Similarly, Switzerland? 101.8F.
- Czech Republic? Check, 105.4F, a record high.
- Reason? A phenomenon known as an Omega Block, in which hot air is trapped over regions for extended periods, with cooler air on its fringes.
- All time highs in Europe, in degrees Celsius. 48.8C is just about 120F.
- Not one, but two heat domes are preparing to join forces .
The first one is developing in the southwest, while the second is forming over the subtropical Atlantic Ocean.- Planning to go out on July the Fourth? All the above will combine into a giant heat dome over much of the South and Midwest on that day.
Noticed Hawaii also shows a lot of dark red.- So I checked, and Kailua, Kona will be only in the mid-80s all next week.
- I could add that Kiluaea Volcano just went into Episode 50.
- Halemaumau crater began erupting this morning.
- Pele's Hair is falling over Pahala in Kau. Lived there a long time ago. You definitely want to avoid Pele's Hair.
- Fountains are peaking at heights of about 1000 feet.
- He threw a fastball yesterday recorded to be 105.5 MPH. Video said that was the fastest ever for a starting pitcher.
- From Google AI:
All three pitchers are still active today.- Chapman is 38 years old.
- Joyce is 25, currently sidelined, but should return soon to the Los Angeles Angels.
- Misiorowski is 24 and probably the best pitcher in baseball today.
- Well, Google AI says the #1 is Shohei Ohtani, and yes, I'll concede. #2 is Misiorowski and #3 Paul Skenes, who is having a so-so year.
- But Shohei is already 31 years old.
- And, by the way, Misiorowski was supposed to pitch for the LSU Tigers, but went straight into the Major Leagues.
- Skenes was the star for the LSU college world series championship team three years ago.
- 5:00 PM - Panama 0-2 England (Group L) at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
- 5:00 PM - Croatia 2-1 Ghana (Group L) at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia
- 7:30 PM - Colombia vs Portugal (Group K) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens
- 7:30 PM - DR Congo vs Uzbekistan (Group K) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
- 10:00 PM - Algeria vs Austria (Group J) at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City
- 10:00 PM - Jordan vs Argentina (Group J) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas
I was in bed this morning, and happened to hear The Girl from Ipanema. Wondered about the story of the song.
- I graduated from college in the summer of 1962.
- Around that time, composer Antonio Carlos Jobim (left) and poet Vinicius de Moraes spent time at a fashionable bar/cafe in Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and ended up writing the music to that song.
17-year old Heloisa Eneida Menezes Paes Pinto regular walked by their table on her way to the beach.- In 1964, a Getz/Gilberto recording session featured Jobim on piano, Stan Getz on the saxophone and Joao Gilberto on guitar.
- They decided to record an English version of The Girl from Ipanema.
Having no prior professional singing experience, Gilberto's wife, Astrud, was asked to join in.- Became a worldwide hit, and the song has since become second only to the The Beatles' Yesterday as the most recorded song in music.
- Heloise Pinheiro media-linked to The Girl from Ipanema went on to have a successful career as a model, TV host and businesswoman.
- The opening ceremonies of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio had Gisele Bundchen walking to The Girl from Ipanema. She was at that time married to all-NFL pro Tom Brady. On the piano was Daniel Jobim, grandson of Antonio Carlos. Gisele was born in Brazil.
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